Door frame



p 1949- A. B. CARPER 2,481,721

DOOR FRAME Filed Jan. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiji ll 3nvcnt or AlfredB '9 attorney-9 Carper Sept. 13, 1949. A. B. CARPER 2,481,721

DOOR FRAME Filed Jan 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bnventor (Ittornegs'Patented Sept. 13, 1949 Aen m ea ismfi anyey 1 9 :5, Serial No. "573 33955 Cr e. (c1.*20 12) 2 ma l to the ob s ewa e. t rth:

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M m ,1?! mentsbf Whicih are a r me: ha e bee hrinkag bn w 'thebgil d 3dadoes I3 are wholly concealed when installation is complete, and may befilled with waterproof glue or with calking material at the time ofinstallation, to secure the side jambs and sills together and to prevententrance of foreign matter or moisture.

The sill I4 having been located and secured in place, the next step isto locate the side jamb I, this being the jamb which carries the hingesI5 supporting the door 9. One end, preferably its upper end, is spaced"from the adjoining studding (see Fi 3) by a spacer II, which preferablyextends across the entire width of the jamb. With the jamb I plumb, atleast in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the doorframe, its upper end is secured in this position by screwing home thescrew II] which passes through the jamb, and which may pass through ornear the spacer I I into the studding. Its lower end is then plumbedboth ways, and is secured in this position by screws 6 passing throughthe jamb and into the studding. Preferably resilient means, illustratedas the coil springs I2, are employed between the back faces of the jamband the studding surrounding the screws 6, these springs serving tospace the jamb away from the studding, while yet permitting the screws 6to draw the lamb towards the studding. These springs will also force thejamb away from the studding, upon slacking off the screws.

With the jamb I thus located, and with a leaf of the hinge I5, or atleast the seat therefor, previously fitted at the factory, the door 9will swing at the proper clearance above the sill I4, and at the properclearance beneath the head jamb 3, which at this end rests upon theupper end of the jamb I, and is held against separation therefrom, suchas would leave a gap.

The next step is the location and securement of the jamb 2, opposite thejamb I which has now been secured in place. The jamb 2 is adjustable inits spacing relative to the jamb I at both ends. It is adjustable at itslower end by reason of the adjustment accorded by the sill being cutshort of the bottom of the channel I3. It is adjustable at its upper endby reason of the fact that the head jamb 3 is connected to the jamb I bymeans which permit some limited adjustment lengthwise of the head jamb3, but which prevents any separation of the jambs I and 3. For example,screws 4 provided with washers 5 pass through holes in the head jamb 3,and into the end of the side jamb I. These holes are either slottedlongitudinally of the head jamb, corresponding to the holes 20 as seenat the left in Figure 1, or are oversize holes permitting limited butsufficient adjustment rele ative to the smaller shank of the screws 4.The screws 4 are sufficiently tight to hold side jamb I and head jamb 3in close frictional contact against separation, but are loose enough topermit the head jamb to slip across the end of the side jamb I when thescrews 6 are tightened.

By such means the spacing between the side jambs I and 2 is adjusted,with just sufficient side clearance for thedoor, and the side jamb 2 isplumbed. It, too, is secured to its studding by screws 6 backed by thesprings I2.

During the location of the side jamb 2, or thereafter, the head jamb 3is leveled, and it will be observed that whereas its right end, as seenin Fig. 1., rests upon the abutted upper end of the side jamb I, itsleft end abuts the side face of the side jamb 2, and the two areconnected in this relationship by' screws I having washers 8, the screwshanks passing through slots or enlarged curement of the casing elementsI8. However, if

desired, securing means such as screws 6 and springs l2 may be employedto secure also the 7 head jamb.

The nailing of the casings I8 to the frame elements and to the studdingsecurely and rigidly holds the frame in its proper position. If thecasing I8 is nailed only to the studding, later adjustment of thefframeis facilitated, and the screws 6 and springs I2 'or 23 will adequatelysecure the frame.' Instead of using casings, the surface finish of thewall, such as lath and plaster,

' can be extended to lap onto the edges of the door jambs and befastened thereto; the joint canbe concealed by a suitable moulding.

The frame having been thus installed the door 9 is hung, and if, aspreferred, the hinges I5, the latch elements I6, and the-striker-plateI'Ihave been fitted at the shop or factory, the several parts will matchproperly and the door is hung and ready for use in-a minimum of time.

Since this is an exterior door [a threshold I9 would normally beinstalled, after installation of the frame'as described above, and itsthickness would be taken into account in initially fitting the door atthe factory. Also door stops 2| would be employed, and these may beeither formed as part of the jambs or installed after installation ofthe jambs." If formed as part of the jambs the matching jambs will berabbeted, as indicated at the top of the side jambI, and at the left endof the head jamb 3, to receive the corresponding door stops 2I, seeFigure 2. When such door stops are thus received in rabbets they willnot prevent the desired relativeadjustment'of the jambs at the corners,within the general plane of the frame as a whole; but will prevent both.

separation of the jambs at the joint, and adjustment of the jambs out ofthe common plane of the frame. the stops separately later, miteringtheir ends, if desired, and securing them in'place to cover the heads ofthe screws 6 and I0.

The form shown in Figure 2 is in substance the same as is shown inFigure 1, except that at the joint illustrated, that between the headjamb 3 and side jamb 2, while the endo'fthe head jamb still abuts theside face of the side jamb 2, the head jamb 3 is 'provided'with anextension 32 which overlies the end of the side jamb 2, and which isprovided'with a hole intowhich is snugly fitted a dowel pin 3Iprojectingupwardly above and in prolongation of the end of the side jamb 2. Such adowel pin (or pins) prevents relative displacement of the jambs out ofthe general plane of the frame as a whole, or in a directionlengthwiseo'f the head jamb 3 in this instance, but permits verticaladjustment of this end of the head jamb relative to'the side jamb 2without the possibility of separation such as would leave a gap at thecorner. A similar dowel'construction may be employed at the opposite endof the head jamb, although here horizontally disposed to permitrelative'lateral adjustment between the side It is possible, of course;to install.

- ing two spaced upright side jambs and a connecting head jamb, hingemounting means carried by one side jamb, a non-yieldable spacer andsecuring means connecting adjacent studding' to the upper end of thehinge-carrying jamb, to mount the latter in definite, fixed relationshipto said studding, means mounting the remainder of the hinge-carryingjamb upon the studding in plumb position, adjustable securing meansconnecting one end of the head jamb to the upper end of saidhinge-carrying jamb, the head jamb being adjustable only'in thedirection of its length relative to the hinge-carrying jamb, to adjustthe width of the frame, adjustable securing means connecting theopposite end of the head jamb to the upper end of the other side jamb,the thusconnected head and side jambs being adjustable only verticallyrelative to each other, to level the head jamb, and means to support thesecond side jamb from the adjacent studding, in substantially plumbposition, spaced from the hinge-carrying jamb the width of a door plusdesired clearance.

2, A frame construction for closures comprising a sill, a top jamb,complementary side jambs, means adjustably connecting said complementaryside jambs at their lower ends to opposite ends respectively of saidsill, and one thereof at its upper end to one end of said top jamb, saidconnecting means providing for limited adjustment of the distance atboth top and bottom between said complementary side jambs, meansadjustably connecting the other side jamb at its upper end to the topjamb, for limited adjustment of the distance between this end,'only, ofsaid top jamb and said sill, and adjustable means fastening said frameconstruction to studding defining an opening in a wall, said adjustablemeans comprising a plurality of screw means exupper end of thehinge-mounting jamb, and the opposite side jamb extending past andabutting the other end of the top jamb, when its lower end rests upon asupport at or near floor-level, means securing the side jambs toadjacent l studding, means joining them to the top jamb for adjustmentof their spacing from. one another at top' and at bottom, to fit thedoor, and means adjustably securing that end of the top jamb which isremote from its end which is, supported upon the hinge-mounting jamb,for adjustment vertically relative to the side jamb at this end, toafford desired clearance for the outer upper edge of the door.

4. A frame constructionfor closures, comprising two spaced upright sidejambs and a connecting head jamb, means securing a first side jamb inplumb'position to adjacent studding, adjustable securing meansconnecting one end of said head jamb to' the upper end of said firstside jamb,

the'head jamb being adjustable only in the direction of its lengthrelative to said first side jamb, to adjust the width of theframe,'adjustable;

rsecuring means connecting the opposite endof the head jamb to the upperend of the second side jamb, the thus-connected head jamb and secondside jamb being adjustable only vertically'relative to each other, tolevelthe headjambQand means to support the second side jamb from'theadjacent studding, in substantially plumb position, spaced from thefirst side-jamb the width of V a door plus desired clearance. A

5; A frame construction for-closures inga top jamb, complementary sidejambs, means adjustably connecting a-first-side jamb atit's-upper end toone end of said top jamb, for limited adjustment of the spacing betweensaid'two side jambs, means adjustably connectingthe second side jamb atits upper end to the top jambffor limited adjustment vertically of'thisend; only, of said top jamb relative to the second side jamb, and meansto secure the jambs to adjacent studding in such relatively adjustedpositions' J 7 6. A frame construction as in' claim 5,-including also asill; and means adjustably connecting the sill and the lower ends of therespective side 7 jambs for adjustment of the spacing-only'of such lowerends of the side jambs; but supporting the side jambs upon said sill. 1

7. A frame construction as in claim 5, including also a sill, the lowerends of the side 'jambs being each transversely channeled across theirinner faces to receive the respective ends of the sill, for support ofthe side jambs from the sill, but of a depth to'permit limitedadjustment of the spacing of the low'er'ends of theside jambs. 8. Aframe construction for closures, comprising two spaced-apart side jambs,a top jamb one end whereof overlies'a first'side jamb, and'the side jambfor limited vertical adjustment, only, of

this end of the top jamb relative to said second side jamb, and means tosecure the jambs in their relatively adjusted positiontoadjacentstudding defining an opening in a wall. 7

9. A frame as in claim 8. characterized in that a hinge seat is formedon that side jamb whereon rests one end of the head jamb. 10. A frameconstruction as in claim 8, wherein the first side jamb carries ahingeseat for hinge support of a door, the jamb securing means V thereforincluding aspacer between and prevent-,

ing approach of said first jamb and the studding,

and supporting elements spaced along the jamb from said spacer foradjustment of such first jamb about said spacer as a fulcrum.

I 11. A frame construction as ineclaim 3 where-=1 in the supportingelements-yieldably urge the jamb away from the studding,=and includemeans drawing the jamb towards'and fixing it against separation from theadjacent studding."

2. A frame construction as in claim 3, where- 7 Q in the supportingelements comprisecompression' springs interposed between thehinge-mounting jamb, and screws extending throughthe jamb and receivedin the adjacent studding.

13. A frame construction as in claim 12, characterized in that the meansconnecting the ends and arranged generally in prolongation of one""comp'ris- V lamb, and a second arm overlying the connected jamb andresiliently engaging the latter to hold it slidably to the end of theclip-supporting jamb.

14. A frame construction as in claim 12, characterized in that the meansconnecting the ends of the head jamb to the respective side jambs areformed as headed studs received in the abutted end of each jamb andpassing through holes in the abutting face of the adjoining jamb, saidsoles being oversize for slidable adjustment lengthwise of thethus-pierced jamb.

15. A frame construction as in claim 12, characterized in that the meansconnecting the ends of the head jamb to the respective side jambscomprise, an extension on the abutted end of a 15 jamb overlying the endof the abutting jamb, and dowel means projecting from the thus overlaidend of the abutting jamb, said extension having REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 381,329 Cahill Apr. 17, 1888899,269 Ohnstrand Sept. 22, 1908 933,985 Hollmann Sept. 14, 19091,750,921 Bright Mar. 18, 1930 2,223,338 Curren Dec. 3, 1940 2,281,864Toothacre May 5, 1942

